Leg-lifting caster.



W. J. STAFFORD. LEG LIFTING (FASTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1912.

1,051 026 Patented Jan.21, 1913.

WILLIAM J'. STAFFORD, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS LEG-LIFTIIVG CASTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,898.

Patented an. 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. STArroRp, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Leg-Lifting Casters; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description'o the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 1

The object of this invention is to produce an improved caster, particularly applicable to a stove leg although it might be used on legs of any kind, having means for projecting it downward to a point below the level of the leg so that the stove or other article can be supported by the caster instead of by the foot, and may then be moved about the room or apartment at will. This object is accomplished by constructing the invention in all its parts in the detailedmanner hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation of a stove leg from the inside, showing the caster raised, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the lower portion of said leg with the caster in the same position. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, showing the caster lowered; and Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections on the lines 4.--4 and 55 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the letter L designates broadly in the present instance a stove leg, having a tongue T at its upper end by means of which it is detachably connected to the stove body (not shown) and a foot F at its lower end adapted to normally rest upon the floor. No novelty is claimed for this much of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The letter C designates broadly a caster herein shown as of the ball type, and whose details are unimportantin this case. It will be quite obvious from what follows that the caster itself might be of any suitable type capable of use in this connection.

Coming now more particularly to the details of the present invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate lugs formed or .cast within the body of the leg L and provided .with

threaded openings into which take screws 3.

having washers 4 under their heads; and the numeral 5 designates an upright shank having a vertical slot 6 whlch straddles said lugs and is recessed in its inner face as at 7 for the reception of the washers 4. The parts are of such length and disposition, and the caster C is so attached to the standard, that when the latter is moved upward over the lugs the caster stands just above the floor, but when the standard is moved downward over the lugs the caster C is projected below the lower end of the foot F as seen in Fig. 3,.' The means for adjusting this standard on its guide, which latter consists of the lugs and the headed screws 3 with or without the washers, consists of a lever 10 having a cylindrical head 11 pivoted eccentrically or off its center as at 12 between flanges l3 projecting inward from the inner face of the standard, and the face of the 'head 11 constitutes a cam moving under the beveled lower face v14 of the uppermost lug 1. When the lever is turned downward to the position seen in Fig. 3, the cam face 11 coacting with the beveled face 14, causes the standard to slide downward and the caster C to beprojected below the lower end of the foot F, so that the caster takes the weight of the stove instead of the foot; on the other hand, when the lever is turned upward to the position shown in Fig. 2, the standard and caster are permitted to rise with respect to the stove leg and fpot, and the latter takes the weight of the stove instead of the caster. The caster is at alltimes hidden from view, and as above suggested it need not necessarily be of the ball type although I refer to so construct it.

Another eature of this invention consists in the provision of an ofi'set or projection 20 at the lower end of the standard, movable vertically within a recess 21 formed in the foot portion F of the stove leg, and to which projection the casing of the caster C is secured as by a screw 22. The disposition of this means of connection between the caster and the standard, at a point fully covered and protected by the foot F, serves the function of protecting the caster and its attachment so that when the housewife sweeps beneath the stove she cannot by accident dislodge the caster from the standard.

Another feature of my invention to which I call attention is the fact that the outer end of the lever 10 is deflected out of a straight line through the length of its body, as at 25 into what might be called a foot-piece, and the size and construction of parts is such that when it is desired to de ress the standard and project the caster downward bev neath the foot F, the operator has but to however, when the leg rests on its foot F,

. the lever is turned upward as shown in Fig.

2 and its foot-piece 25 is housed within the leg L.

The parts are by preference entirely of metal, and their size, shape, proportion and finish are matters of no moment in this connection.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a stove leg and foot form ed internally with horizontally projecting lugs whereof the lower face of the uppermost is beveled, the foot having a projection on its inner side provided with a.

recess, and screws seated in the inner ends of said lugs and having washers beneath their heads; of an upright standard having a caster at its lower end and a slot in its body slidably mounted on said lugs and its face recessed to loosely engage said washers, the

r connection between said standard and caster being adaptedto enter said recess in the projection'within the foot, parallel flanges projecting from the inner face of said standard, and a lever having an outwardly extending foot-piece at its outer end and a circular head eccentrically pivoted between said. flanges with its facein contact with the beveled face of said uppermost lug, for the purpose set forth. I

2. The combination with a 1e and foot formed internally with horizonta ly projecting lugs whereof the lower face of the uppermost is beveled, and screws seated in the inner ends of said lugs; ofan upright standard having a caster at its lower end and a slot in its body slidably mounted on said lugs, arallel flanges projecting from the inner ace of said standard, and a lever having an outwardly extendingfoot-piece at its outer end and a circular head 'eccentrically pivoted between said flanges with its face in contact with the beveled ace of said uppermost lug.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses. v WILLIAM J. STAFFORD. Witnesses:

HOMER M. Sworn, ALMA A. Sworn. 

